Chapter 139: Personal Revenge, Deliberate Retaliation, One vs. Seven
The training ground the next afternoon.
The sun blazed overhead, making people dizzy. Heat waves shimmered above the ground.
The Shrek Seven Devils were doing basic physical training, sweat running down their temples.
Then Yu Xiaogang arrived.
This guy had changed into a new robe, dark green, and the fabric looked quite expensive.
His hair was combed sleek and shiny, not a single stray strand out of place.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he strode forward in measured steps, putting on an air of authority.
As if yesterday's humiliating farce had never happened.
Flender followed behind him, his expression extremely complicated.
He looked like he wanted to speak but didn't. The corner of his mouth twitched again and again before finally turning into a barely audible sigh.
'At least Xiaogang didn't completely collapse like I did.'
He silently stood at the edge of the training ground, hands stuffed into his pockets, eyes drifting elsewhere as if pretending to be a passerby.
Yu Xiaogang stopped in the center of the field and cleared his throat.
"Assemble."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a deliberately forced authority.
The seven exchanged glances before slowly gathering.
Lin Qingmo stood at the very edge, arms folded across his chest, his expression calm.
He wanted to see what kind of performance this "master" could still put on.
"What happened yesterday was merely a small incident."
Yu Xiaogang scanned the group, deliberately letting his gaze linger on Lin Qingmo's face for two extra seconds.
"As a teacher, I will not dwell on a student's offense. My duty is to guide you and help you become top-tier Soul Masters. Therefore—"
He paused and straightened his back.
"Those insignificant frictions are now a thing of the past."
"From today onward, I will devote myself fully to teaching. I hope all of you will also adjust your attitude and study seriously."
After he finished speaking, the training ground fell silent for three seconds.
Ning Rongrong was the first to lose control.
"Pfft—!"
She quickly covered her mouth, pretending to suppress the laugh, though her shoulders still shook.
Standing beside her, Zhu Zhuqing curled her lips into a cold smile.
Her gaze practically said,
Please, continue your performance.
Dai Mubai turned his head aside and muttered under his breath,
"He's really good at pretending."
Tang San lowered his eyes, unconsciously rubbing the edge of his sleeve with his fingertips.
'You dare insult my teacher… You already have a way to death.'
Just as he was about to silently recite the way to death, he heard Xiao Wu's annoyed whisper.
"What an annoying guy."
Xiao Wu scooted closer to Lin Qingmo and tugged at the corner of his clothes.
Lin Qingmo turned his head and saw her wrinkle her nose, mouthing the word "disgusting."
He smiled faintly and shook his head.
Meaning: Ignore him.
But Yu Xiaogang clearly had no intention of stopping there.
He stepped forward two more paces, sweeping his gaze across everyone before finally fixing it on Lin Qingmo.
There was curiosity in that gaze.
Calculation.
And a deeply hidden trace of resentment.
Lin Qingmo met his eyes.
Their gazes locked.
For a moment, invisible sparks seemed to crackle in the air.
But in the end, Yu Xiaogang was the first to look away, a hint of guilt flashing across his face.
He coughed.
"Ahem. To better formulate training plans, I need to accurately assess your combat abilities. Therefore, let's have a sparring match."
A small stir ran through the training ground.
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up.
"A fight? I like this!"
Oscar stroked his chin.
"Teacher, how will we fight? Individual duels or team battles? Just saying in advance, I'm a food system Soul Master; I don't really have combat ability."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head.
Then he raised his hand.
His finger pointed straight at Lin Qingmo.
"You."
Then his finger swept across Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
"One person."
"Fight the seven of them."
"Huh?"
The training ground instantly exploded.
"What did you just say?"
Ma Hongjun dug at his ear, thinking he had misheard.
Xiao Wu jumped up directly, glaring at Yu Xiaogang.
"Are you joking? Seven against one? You call this sparring? This is a gang beating!"
"I think you're clearly targeting Lin Qingmo! This is public revenge!"
Her voice was urgent and angry, her pink ponytail swishing behind her head.
Ning Rongrong widened her eyes and quickly chimed in.
"Exactly! Lin Qingmo is only a Soul Ancestor. How is it fair for seven of us to fight him together?"
Her words sounded exaggerated, but the reasoning wasn't wrong.
Dai Mubai didn't speak.
But his fists tightened, his knuckles cracking faintly.
He stared at Yu Xiaogang, suspicion clear in his eyes.
'Is he looking down on me?'
Tang San frowned.
He was calculating rapidly.
Seven against one… even if Lin Qingmo had a ten-thousand-year soul ring, his chances of winning were extremely low.
Perhaps this was a good opportunity to teach Lin Qingmo a lesson.
"Unfair."
Zhu Zhuqing leaned forward slightly like a leopard about to pounce.
The disgust in her cat-like eyes grew more obvious.
Flender finally couldn't stay silent.
He quickly walked over to Yu Xiaogang and lowered his voice.
"Xiaogang, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Even he, as an observer, felt this was deliberate retaliation against Lin Qingmo.
"It's appropriate."
Yu Xiaogang cut him off, his tone unquestionable.
He turned to Lin Qingmo, a deliberately "magnanimous" smile appearing on his face.
"Considering the strength gap, I will allow you, Lin Qingmo, to freely use your fourth soul skill, that ten-thousand-year soul skill, during this sparring match."
As soon as the words fell—
The training ground became quiet again.
But this time it was a different kind of silence.
Everyone heard the implication.
Yu Xiaogang's real goal wasn't to evaluate combat ability.
He wanted to see Lin Qingmo's ten-thousand-year soul skill.
He wanted to witness firsthand what kind of power a soul ring that surpassed theoretical limits possessed.
Lin Qingmo smiled.
A very faint smile with no warmth.
"Teacher really wants to see my fourth soul skill?"
"?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to normal.
He said with forced composure,
"I simply wish to fully understand your strength. A ten-thousand-year soul ring is precious, but how it is used is what truly determines a Soul Master's value."
Grand and righteous words.
Flawless.
Lin Qingmo sneered inwardly.
This man's ability to wave banners and shout slogans was clearly better than his theoretical knowledge.
"Lin Qingmo, don't agree. He's obviously targeting you."
Xiao Wu grabbed his arm anxiously.
She didn't want to fight Lin Qingmo.
Not at all.
Lin Qingmo lowered his head to look at her, his gaze softening.
He patted the back of Xiao Wu's hand and said in a voice as soft as if coaxing a child.
"It's fine. It's just sparring. We'll stop before anyone gets hurt."
He lifted his head and glanced at the others.
Dai Mubai looked eager to fight, fists already clenched.
This guy was naturally combative and had always held a grudge against Lin Qingmo.
He definitely wouldn't want to miss a seven-to-one advantage.
Tang San's eyes flickered as he silently calculated something.
But Lin Qingmo noticed that Tang San's right hand remained close to the Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges at his waist.
Oscar scratched his head, muttering,
"How many sausages will I have to make now?"
"Hehe, watch me show off my power!"
Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together excitedly, already loosening his joints.
Zhu Zhuqing remained the quietest.
But the aura around her had already changed.
It was the sign of a predator entering battle mode.
She also wanted to fight Lin Qingmo.
Ning Rongrong puffed her cheeks and complained softly.
"Lin Qingmo, don't hold back too obviously later. Otherwise, it won't be fun if we win."
Although everyone could see that Yu Xiaogang was targeting Lin Qingmo…
Ning Rongrong didn't believe they could actually defeat him.
Lin Qingmo smiled faintly and withdrew his gaze.
Then he looked at Yu Xiaogang and said calmly,
"Fine."
"I accept."
End of Chapter